Freeman w



F. W; HOOD.

REVOLVING FIRE-ARM.

No.174,731. Patented Marchlk, 1876.

$531 ESFFJLRBLL CGPY WITNESSES: INVENTUR 0M 50076 w a/ib mm ATWBNEYS? NPETERS. PHOTO-LITNOGRAPNER, WASHINGTON. D C

FREEMAN W. HOOD, OF NORWICH, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE HOOD FIRE-ARMS COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT IN REVOLVING FIRE-ARMS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 1742,?3 l1, dated March 14, 1876; application tiled February 21, 1876.

resents a side view of my improvement in revolving fire-arms, with part cut out to show interior; and Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse section of the same on the line a c, Fig. l.

Similarletters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

The object of my invention is to so improve rrvolving fire-arms that the common stop device, entering the notches ot' the revolving cylinder, may he dispensed with, and the looking action of the chamber accomplished in a very simple yet reliable and positive manner.

The invention consists of the combination of the spring-pawl ot' the hammer, that engages the ratchet of the chamber, and re volves the same, with a pawl-locking recess, or equivalent device, to retain the pawl in locked position in the ratchet when the hammer is cocked.

1n the drawing, 'A represents the revolving cylinder. orchamber, and B the hammer of a revolving fire-arm. The spring-acted pawl C is pivoted to the lower front part of the hammer, and operatedby the cocking ot' the same, so as to engage the ratchetD of the cylinder A and thereby revolve the same, in the'usual manner. .When the pawl is moved forward to engage the ratchet and revolve the cylin der, to bring one of the chambers in range with the barrel, the motion of the pawl is stopped or terminated by a slotted recess,- a set-screw, or other equivalent device, a, of that part of the stock facing the cylinder. This recess locks securely and positively the pawl into the ratchet as long as the hammer remains in cocked position. The spring-pawl serves the double function of revolving the cylinder and also of locking the same rigidly at the exact point when the chamber is in line with the barrel, dispensing with the separate stop device and the notches or recesses ot the cylinder hitherto used. The construction of a revolver is thereby simplified, and a neater appearance to the same imparted, while the cylinder may be readily revolved when the hammer is in dropped position, but is instant- 

